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Tale of Two Tight Ends: Gronkowski and Hernandez Have to Make Changes
By: Derek Havens

The New England Patriots have two of the best tight ends in the NFL today. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez made a hug impact for the team since being drafted in 2010. After three seasons in he league, however both have to make changes moving forward....

It sounds as if Gronkowski is at some level becoming the victim of his own fan favorite status... Being a little too ****y and out of control off the field.

Hernandez does not seem to be a true go--to guy... perhaps he prefers playing in the shadow of Gronk, and when alone his lack of leadership qualities seem a little too apparent. (the dropped passes is only one such sign)

He is who he is.....and he was that before the pats extended him......if they didn't have this talk with him before the extension, then they only have themselves to blame.

start complaining when he hurts himself off the field.......

so let's review his injuries:
- wrapped by pollard, hurt his ankle trying for extra yards
- broke his arm on special teams.....who the hell signs a guy for $54M and puts him on special teams? we would not be having this conversation if it were not for this stupid move.....reminds me of when BB put Seymour in there as a FB and Seymour got hurt.....it was never necessary, and special teams did not suffer because of gronk's absence, so why do it?
- reinjured his arms stretching himself out as much as he could to catch a ball that was over thrown by brady.....

Tale of Two Tight Ends: Gronkowski and Hernandez Have to Make Changes
By: Derek Havens

The New England Patriots have two of the best tight ends in the NFL today. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez made a hug impact for the team since being drafted in 2010. After three seasons in he league, however both have to make changes moving forward....

AHern's effectiveness is dependent on Gronkowski's availability. With a healthy Gronk, NE can create mismatches for AHern. Without Gronk, he is a small TE on the line or a slow WR when spread out. Together, they can ham and egg it by moving AHern around, whamming him into the DE, in motion, out of the backfield. As long as LBs have to account for both of them , confusion and chaos and mismatches get created.
Gronk can thrive on his own.....AHern is a complimentary piece

AHern's effectiveness is dependent on Gronkowski's availability. With a healthy Gronk, NE can create mismatches for AHern. Without Gronk, he is a small TE on the line or a slow WR when spread out. Together, they can ham and egg it by moving AHern around, whamming him into the DE, in motion, out of the backfield. As long as LBs have to account for both of them , confusion and chaos and mismatches get created.
Gronk can thrive on his own.....AHern is a complimentary piece

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Disagree entirely. Hernandez, I think, has shown the ability to perform on his own accord, and would've been even better were it not for the high ankle sprain.

No doubt he's better when Gronkowski plays, but that applies to every offensive skill player.

Disagree entirely. Hernandez, I think, has shown the ability to perform on his own accord, and would've been even better were it not for the high ankle sprain.

No doubt he's better when Gronkowski plays, but that applies to every offensive skill player.

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I agree with JackBauer. If we just think of Hernandez's last game then it looks bad...but look back over this season and factor in his injury and he had a very good year and should grow. Remember, he was being touted as THE weapon for Brady this year until his sprain.

Everyone had a bad AFCCG, let's not act like this season was Hernandez dog faking because he got paid.

BB just needs to do a much much better job of managing the roster. There is no need to put your superstars in risky positions and rush them back from injury when getting into the playoffs has been pretty much a guarantee in our division. I would rather play all 4 playoff games with a healthy team than hurt the key players while trying to get the coveted 1st round bye.

BB just needs to do a much much better job of managing the roster. There is no need to put your superstars in risky positions and rush them back from injury when getting into the playoffs has been pretty much a guarantee in our division. I would rather play all 4 playoff games with a healthy team than hurt the key players while trying to get the coveted 1st round bye.

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With Faenane, Aaron H's aborted return, Gronk's 2nd break, etc. one or a combination of things...
1) BB is not getting accurate medical advice on player injuries
2) BB is ignoring good medical advice like he did when he drafted Chad Jackson
3) The Football Gods (a.k.a. quantum fluctuations in the fabric of reality...chance) are agin' us and making us suffer for our hubris

I agree with JackBauer. If we just think of Hernandez's last game then it looks bad...but look back over this season and factor in his injury and he had a very good year and should grow. Remember, he was being touted as THE weapon for Brady this year until his sprain.

Everyone had a bad AFCCG, let's not act like this season was Hernandez dog faking because he got paid.

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I looked at Hernandez and saw a player that clearly wasn't a WR, but can't block much better than a WR, clearly couldn't get open as fast as Welker, clearly didn't handle pain as well as Welker, and definitely shouldn't be a team's #1 option.

With Faenane, Aaron H's aborted return, Gronk's 2nd break, etc. one or a combination of things...
1) BB is not getting accurate medical advice on player injuries
2) BB is ignoring good medical advice like he did when he drafted Chad Jackson
3) The Football Gods (a.k.a. quantum fluctuations in the fabric of reality...chance) are agin' us and making us suffer for our hubris

If a team came calling and offered a 1st round pick or a high 2nd for Gronk would you take it? Im not sure how his contract is structured but would hope the Pats left some wiggle room.

I would do the trade and heres why:

1. This 2 TE formation is awesome, but I dont see other teams winning Super Bowls with this system. They have at least good 1 TE, yes. Gronk catching 17 TDs is a bad thing because the offense isnt diversified enough should injury occur or defense have success taking him away.

2. Gronk doesnt seem to be getting the message. You just had surgery and youre wrestling in Vegas? He seems to make a lot of bad decisions.

3. The Pats have Ballard and Hernandez on the roster and if they wanted another TE these NFL drafts are full of good TEs: Jimmy Graham was a 3rd, Dennis Pitta was a 4th.

4. The Pats would have either 2 - 1sts/2nd or 1st/2 -2nds. They could draft a WR (field stretcher),CB (best available) and DE (another pass rusher) potentially curing many ills assuming the picks are as good as 2012.

If a team came calling and offered a 1st round pick or a high 2nd for Gronk would you take it? Im not sure how his contract is structured but would hope the Pats left some wiggle room.

I would do the trade and heres why:

1. This 2 TE formation is awesome, but I dont see other teams winning Super Bowls with this system. They have at least good 1 TE, yes. Gronk catching 17 TDs is a bad thing because the offense isnt diversified enough should injury occur or defense have success taking him away.

2. Gronk doesnt seem to be getting the message. You just had surgery and youre wrestling in Vegas? He seems to make a lot of bad decisions.

3. The Pats have Ballard and Hernandez on the roster and if they wanted another TE these NFL drafts are full of good TEs: Jimmy Graham was a 3rd, Dennis Pitta was a 4th.

4. The Pats would have either 2 - 1sts/2nd or 1st/2 -2nds. They could draft a WR (field stretcher),CB (best available) and DE (another pass rusher) potentially curing many ills assuming the picks are as good as 2012.

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No sensible person would trade away the best TE in the game, by FAR, based on his frat party behavior alone. And if it were so, no way Bill would settle for just a single 1st or 2nd round pick.

Until Gronk's actions start affecting his performance on the field, Bill and staff are likely just going to try and manage his publicity.

No sensible person would trade away the best TE in the game, by FAR, based on his frat party behavior alone. And if it were so, no way Bill would settle for just a single 1st or 2nd round pick.

Until Gronk's actions start affecting his performance on the field, Bill and staff are likely just going to try and manage his publicity.

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Thats part of the problem.

The Pats have turned into a fantasy team with the best TE and best slot WR in NFL history where as in the Championship years, the wealth was spread out and divided almost equal. Brown, Branch and Givens werent your top fantasy football picks, but they did enough to get the job done. If defenses took away 1 component, the Pats would just shift strategy to the next option.

The Pats offense is so dependent on 1 or 2 players today and thats why NE has stalled out in the post season and failed to win the 4th Championship.

If a team came calling and offered a 1st round pick or a high 2nd for Gronk would you take it? Im not sure how his contract is structured but would hope the Pats left some wiggle room.

I would do the trade and heres why:

1. This 2 TE formation is awesome, but I dont see other teams winning Super Bowls with this system. They have at least good 1 TE, yes. Gronk catching 17 TDs is a bad thing because the offense isnt diversified enough should injury occur or defense have success taking him away.

2. Gronk doesnt seem to be getting the message. You just had surgery and youre wrestling in Vegas? He seems to make a lot of bad decisions.

3. The Pats have Ballard and Hernandez on the roster and if they wanted another TE these NFL drafts are full of good TEs: Jimmy Graham was a 3rd, Dennis Pitta was a 4th.

4. The Pats would have either 2 - 1sts/2nd or 1st/2 -2nds. They could draft a WR (field stretcher),CB (best available) and DE (another pass rusher) potentially curing many ills assuming the picks are as good as 2012.

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The "system" is to have the two, especially incomparable gronkowski, actually healthy for the playoffs.

Hate to say it, but this is awful logic, if you can even call it that.

is this a joke? I'd be permanently banned for what I would say if it wasn't.

your system would produce a perennial zero win team

with your logic, they should just get rid of brady because they depend way too much on him.

the real simple fact is that the pats knew exactly what they were getting themselves into when thye broke their own habit of waiting until the rookie deal is up by extending him 2 years in with full knowledge of who he is.....I guess if they're fine with him, then you ridiculously spoiled people need to stop complaining......they obviously appreciate him as a football player.....sorry, but I will go with their opinion rather than the stupid media and spoiled fans

If a team came calling and offered a 1st round pick or a high 2nd for Gronk would you take it? Im not sure how his contract is structured but would hope the Pats left some wiggle room.

I would do the trade and heres why:

1. This 2 TE formation is awesome, but I dont see other teams winning Super Bowls with this system. They have at least good 1 TE, yes. Gronk catching 17 TDs is a bad thing because the offense isnt diversified enough should injury occur or defense have success taking him away.

2. Gronk doesnt seem to be getting the message. You just had surgery and youre wrestling in Vegas? He seems to make a lot of bad decisions.

3. The Pats have Ballard and Hernandez on the roster and if they wanted another TE these NFL drafts are full of good TEs: Jimmy Graham was a 3rd, Dennis Pitta was a 4th.

4. The Pats would have either 2 - 1sts/2nd or 1st/2 -2nds. They could draft a WR (field stretcher),CB (best available) and DE (another pass rusher) potentially curing many ills assuming the picks are as good as 2012.

What are the odds that both TEs make it to the post season healthy? I would not say that theyre very good. 50 - 50? Hernandez wasnt 100% either this post season.

Vernon Davis and Dennis Pitta are good TEs too, but they dont have pro bowl numbers. Remember when this board use to say that SuperBowlers> Probowlers? It still applies.

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yup.....and both QB's in the SB are pretty young......should the pats dump brady? maybe it's not the TE's.......maybe it's the QB.......it ended the same way whetehr the passing game is what it is now just like it did when they were breaking all offensive records in 2007....just saying......your logic is really weak....AT BEST